Samoa have announced their preliminary 25-man squad for the Test match against Australia on July 17.

The 25-man squad, named by head coach Titimaea Tafua, includes Crusaders scrum-half Kahn Fotuali'i alongside fellow Super Rugby representatives Highlanders hooker Mo Schwalger and Hurricanes (soon to be Bath) prop Anthony Perenise. Australia coach Robbie Deans will be greeted by some familiar faces as he had prop Sakaria Taulafo, fly-half Tusi Pisi, fullback Paul Williams, hooker Ti'i Paulo, half-back Lualua Vailoaloa and Fotuali'i under his tutelage while at the Crusaders.

Other well-known faces in the Samoa party include Leicester Tigers wing Alesana Tuilagi and Gloucester's maverick centre Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu. Ex-London Irish centre Seilala Mapusua and current Exiles winger Sailosi Tagicakibau are also named.

Samoa still have two matches left in the Pacific Nations Cup so the squad will arrive in Sydney in two groups. The first contingent will turn up on Sunday following the Pacific Nations Cup Test against Fiji, with the rest of the squad arriving on Thursday, the day after their final match of the tournament against Tonga. Samoa performed well in the first match of the Pacific Nations Cup, beating Japan 34-15 in Tokyo.

Tafua will announce the team to face the Wallabies on Thursday. Samoa open their World Cup campaign against Namibia on September 14 in Rotorua.